Bredun Edwards
James Hendrick (to come…)
Reed Klass
Jimmy Lam
ARTIST: MARCO ROMANO CIOCCA
PROJECT: TUMBLEWEED!
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
‘Tumbleweed', when used as a noun, has an innocuous meaning. It’s a dry ball of twigs and branches that breaks off a plant in the dry months, blows along at the mercy of the wind, picking up random things along its path and dispersing its seeds. ‘Tumbleweed’, as a verb, has a much more interesting connotation. In TUMBLEWEED!, I follow a single subject to explore what it means to ‘tumbleweed’ though life. Bingo, as he's been called since his sister held a stethoscope to their mother’s belly and heard infant Bingo’s heart murmuring, is one of the most jovial, kind-hearted, witty, genuine and uplifting humans you’ll ever meet. He wears a uniform to make living more efficient, and travels only with a small bag. He only buys one-way tickets, and books lodging on a night by night basis. By following him around the world, I wanted to capture Bingo on his stage - ever changing, but always the same. No matter where he is, the vignettes illustrate a pattern to the randomness. Nothing was staged, all you see in the photo essay is genuine and shot candidly and spontaneously. This is an ode to a lifestyle many may not relate to or ever experience. It is an attempt to capture the randomness of adventure, ‘tumbleweeding' in a search of others, for human connection, sharing moments and spreading joy and laughter.
When taken as a whole, this essay almost seems like it’s one long day - but ultimately, aren’t we all ’tumbleweeding’ through life, blown along by the random forces of nature, picking up experiences as we go all the while hoping to leave our mark on the world?
ARTIST BIO
Marco Romano has had a love affair with the lens for over two decades. His path has taken him from studies in counter-terrorism, to law, to entrepreneurship and fly fishing the great outdoors. Now focusing on the creative side of his passions, he has found a renewed calling to document the spaces around him with the camera and refocused on his desire to tell a story through visual means. Pursuing his interest in reportage and candid photograph, Marco has completed courses at the University of Arts London: Central Saint Martins and can be seen roaming the streets of New York City with his camera, or on his quest to fly fish all 50 states. Marco is working on his first full-scale, single-subject photo project where he explores the concept of what's like to ’tumbleweed’ through life.